Cooling tower



Nov. 30, 1954 w. McGRATH COOLING TOWERS 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Nov. 2, 1949 FIG.3

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Nov. 30, 1954 w. L. McGRATH 2,695,773

COOLING TOWERS Filed Nov. 2, 1949 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENT OR BY 9* /M United States Patent "WilliamLJMGrath,iSyracu'se,'N;"Y., assignor to Carrier Gorporation; *Syracuse, "N. *Y., 1a corporation of Delaware 1-.This -invention relates tocoolingxtowers and, -more cooling .tower.

The -'.chief1.object in the :present invention is to prowide acooling .tower lilIfiXPfiHSiYfi in 1 initial :cost, 1 designed \to.-.assure -adequateticooling ofwater distributed therein Lby heat exchange relation .with air directed through the .tower rand-to eliminate electrical -servi'ce do the -tower .tlnereby reducing installationwcosts;

*An robject of 1 the Ipresent linv ention is to'jprovide' simplified mechanism for (distributing water tin the "entitling tower and to'crotate the :fan employed'to-di'reet air tthroughithe cooling tower.

further iobieetz is zto 1 provide a cooling ltower includiing heck-snot simplified construction which may be empl'oyed :at .dow iCOSt.

A (still. 1 further object is :to provide a "cooling tower pf fsimplified uconstruction by the -'elimination of a fan motor Other. objects :o'f ;.perceived from theifollowing description.

This invention relates "to'aa cooling tower compi'is'ing tatcasingrincludingia:pluralitwdf lattieetworkrdecks comsposedcofwimpregnateditfibrous material, -each *deok *b'eing =-.ofi-set .from its tcontactingfiecksito *increase the amount missus-face for water :distribu'tion. tspray mechanism is :provided to' distribute water "over itheqi'decks. Theflturbo=spray mechanism rot-ates '-a-*'fan wonnectedthereto to spassair through the casing in'coun- XtGI'flOWJI'CllKtiUH with water distributed over the "decks.

. 1A -surnp '1s -rdisposed in the bottom of ithe "casing" to re seeiveswaterzfallingrfromrthe decks. wided win the :casing :at the bottom thereof, above the sump,ntoipermit airhto 'befirawn withmthe casing. 'An eliminator is placed at the top of-the casirrg'to assist =.in thewadiifusion-cof iair drawn through the "casing and to prevent .:any :substantial amount'aof water being "carried qofliswithr the i discharged i air stream.

The :attached drawings :illustrate a preferred :embodirment :of: my iinvenion; in which Figure :1 is :a view in elevation of i the cooling 'tower tofnmysinvention;

Figure 2.ista:;sectional view of the coolingtowenrshown lineEigurek 1;

Figure 3 2a :plan view i of the -'cooling towerWshown .1iII1'EigUITESE sand 2;

.Eigu're 4 is a view'i'partly in elevation and partly "in =-.sectionr:of* the water distributing mechanism;

'IEiguIeJLS is a fragmentary sectional view illustrating rthecmanner in which the decks are -=supported "in the .cas- :mg;

Figure -26 is a fragmentary sectional view the manner which "the the casing;

Figure? is a plan viewpartiallyibroken away -toilgl'siate'the staggered construction of the "lattice-work FigureS isa'view in elevation of.a-idecksection and Figure9is' an isometric view of thelattice-worktdeck.

Referring 'to the drawings, there is :shown a. cooling tower, including a casing'Z halving a,plurality of.iopen- "ings o'fl'ouvers 3adjacent the "lower. portion of .themesillustrating sump screen is supported .in

'ingtopermit "exterior air to be drawn-within casingiZ andia sump '4 formed in the '1ower.,portion of easingv 2 *twrecive water distributed. within. the icasingdn heat 'my invention -will be -'readily 2,695,773 *Patented Nov. 30, 1954 2 exchange :relation with air=drawnwtherein. Sump-Aids :below louvers. Swandwpreferablvhas -a :screen 5 lthereover to prevent leavesand :the a like being .drawn through llouvers 5-6 and falling into sump 4. "Screen 5w (Jeferrtto 5 Fig. I6)is-supported..in a'metaliramedwhich rests upon aibrackefl7 secureduto 'tthe'wallwofsumpel.

Withinrzcasing zra'djacent to .the' top thereof :is asfan :8 to draw air through :louvers 3 into .the casing hand to discharge the air fromdhe casing. 'Water distributing mechanism 9 is 'adisposedwblowtan '8 and. :serves -.to1:distribute. waterwinaa desired pattern over .a (plurality sofslattice+work decks :10, supported in the casing tby :means: of tarscreen: :11": held inzai metal frame il 2sandsresting upon "a Z 1111216 :12 secured rto .thes-wal'l df casing \(refer to Figureffi). fIf desired,"reinforcing means ifor screen :11. may be provided-although this is not1 generally necessary. I

Atzthe'itop of icasingZ adjacentto the opening :therein, there :is. disposedia :pan-like member .13, secured-to ccasingileso as. toform.:in effect. a continuationthereof. disk-.like;member :14 is supported .iI1" 'P3'I1 F13 over =the 1 opening in the..- easin'giand is spaced "from the opening -in -.the'r.casin:g. Fan ii d ischarges the air stream after its passage in: heattexchange counterflow relation :with' Water in'the leasing 'Lagainst disk 14; ithe air stream striking .againstndisk 14zpermits1moisture jcarried thereby to' col- :lection'thedisk il4a'and to drain into pan 13 and toreturn to ca'sing -2 :over the lattice-work decks "therein. llniaddition, rdisk 1 4' ':serves to diiiuse to some extent the 30 orce of ctheidischarged air stream, by slowing down ithezairwstream sand @eonverting velocity into static pres- :surertherebyr increasing the efliciency of the tower. Disk =14wmay rbe supported (by means of brackets '15 secured to the'twalltof pan 613 wherein desired to cas'ing' 2.

:The 1attice-work decks 10 are best illustrate'd in Figs. 7, '8, 1andti9; Ea'eh lattice=work deck is formed 1 of a P pluzrality :of impregnated fibrous *strips 16, -extending in-a desired direction, =and a 'second series of impregnated :fiBmUsistrips 1'7, extending'at a right angle ito the'first series of strips. Each strip is provided with a---series-of spaGedIsIots extending from a longitudin-al ed'ge there- ,Ofb 'IFhe :slots are spac ed equal distances Zapart; "The aslotwadjacentrone end 19 'ofeach strip is spaced a less \distance from: that end of the strip than the distance be- 45 -utween1theelot rat the opposite end 20 of the strip and'the :oppositenend i of the *strip. These slots are so spaced 'in order to permit a series :of decks'to *be -assenibled with athe strips'of each deck *in staggered relation, -one deck being .turned at a ri'ght angle to 'its contacting deck to 50 ...off+set :the zastripsin one heck from the strips in the sec- =zond vdeck, itltereby increasing the amounto'fsur'face afaforded tosplaee Water in heat exchange relationfwith eair :passing Ithrough the-icas'ing. The decks are; formed by revers-ingsstrips of'the-second-series in-order thatthe 55 fslotsumay iberdispo'sed adjacent to oneanothento form :thexdeck. Each'sl'ot preferably ,has awidthsubstantilly 'equal:torthe thicknessof a strip order 'thatthe strips :may-dae fraetionally interlocked to "hold the deck as ia innit. It is importantinmyinvention that the'widthof tthe 'strips -I16 and 1 7 'be'disposed in the directions-of air flow and water flow to increase the heat'exr':hange.beitweencthe air and the water. Thestrips themselves by such idisposition are used as 'heat exchange surface 'thus zelirninating splas'h decks. The air passing in'counter- -.=flow.-*relation with*thewvater being cooled is being broken continuously into ''sep arate "streams "by striking the edges of theestrips' thereby; greatly increasing theheatexchange efie'ct between the air and the .water. V g

The strips, 316' and 1-7, ma-y be formed of any' suitable 70 fibrous r'material which is substantially water repellent. :I have found that such strips may be 'formedfrom a water-laidsonganic .fiber sheet saturated with a pressure still asphalt .having .a melting :.point of about 170 :Fa-hrenheit; The Water-laidorganicfiber sheet 'may be 75 vpreparedzhy forming thesameaon raipaper'ma'chine, pressting iand dr ying. the :sheet on thetpaper ima'chine; then transferring the sheet to a'saturatingttank =wherein=at -least an equal "amount. of asphaltriszincorporated into =the fibrous :sheehby "dipping --.the sheet into ta ibath rof 80 ..asphalt atra temperature ofabout400 Fahrenheit. The saturated sheet iszremovedsfromitheasphaltuhath; partially cooled, rewound, and die cut to form the strips 16 and 17. While, preferably, the strips 16 and 17 are single-ply, if desired, a two-ply strip may be employed. In such a case, the sheet described may be laminated by applying a film of oxidized asphalt having a melting pomt of -about 222-235 Fahrenheit -to one sheet and securing it to a second sheet by means of rolling pressure. The two-ply sheet may be cooled and then cut to shape as described.

It will be appreciated, of course, any suitable fibrous material may be employed for this purpose. The various fiber strips need only be sufficiently strongto support the weight of decks placed thereon. If desired, saturated roofing felt may be employed. i i

The water distributing mechanism 9 includes a supply pipe 25 connected to a source of water it is desired to cool. A pump (not shown) supplies water under pressure to pipe 25. A second pipe 26 extends upward from pipe 25 and serves in effect as a shaft for the water d1 stributing sprays. Pipe 26 has its end closed as shown in 27 and terminates in a rounded knob or seat member 28 for a purpose hereinafter explained. Opening 29 1s provided inpipe 26, connecting the interior of the pipe 36 with a chamber in a spinner head 31 surrounding pipe 26.

Spinner head 31 includes a chamber 32 connected to the interior of pipe 26 by openings 29 and a plurality of curved arms 33 terminating in nozzles 34. Water under pressure from chamber 32 flows into arms 33 and strikes the corners in the passages therethrough, causing the spinner head 31 to rotate. Rotation of arms 33 permits water to be discharged from the nozzles over the lattice work decks in a directed path of distribution thereby eliminating distributing decks and spray nozzles.

Spinner head 31 includes an upper portion 34 fwhich rests on seat 28. A chamber 35 is formed between portion 34 and the closed end 27 of pipe 26. Chambers 35 and 32 are connected since watermay pass between the exterior wall of pipe 26 and the interior walls 36 of spinner head 31. Spinner head 31 terminates in a shaftlike portion 37 on which is mounted fan 8. A vertically extending opening 38 in shaft 37 is closed by seat 28 when the mechanism is at rest. Horizontally extending openings 39 extend from opening 38 in shaft 37 to the exterior surface of the shaft for a purpose hereinafter explained.

When water under pressure enters chamber 32, it immediately is forced therefrom through the passages between the interior wall 36 of spinner head 31 and the exterior wall of pipe 26 into chamber 35. Such water pressure is sufiiciently great to raise the spinner head from seat 28 and to cause immediate rotation of the spinner head. In order to prevent such pressure being so great as to raise spinner head 31 to permit its release from pipe 26 the openings 38 and 39 are provided to permit water in chamber 35 to bleed off during operation of the device. Such water may be returned in the casing over the lattice-work decks 10. As the water pressure lifts the spinner head 31, the vertical passage 38 in shaft 37 is opened, permitting water to flow therethrough and through openings 39 automatically releasing a portion of the water pressure in chamber 35. Pressure in chamber 35 is thus maintained in an amount suflicient to compensate for thrust forces, Weight of the spinner head and fan, etc. so that the device always operates on a film of water thus greatly reducing friction during rotation of the nozzles and the fan.

In operation, water to be cooled passes under pressure thru the supply pipe 25 and is forwarded to the spinner head 31. Water under pressure passing through the arms 33 of spinner head 31 strikes the corners of the passages and causes the spinner head 31 to rotate, thus distributing water through the nozzles over the lattice-work decks 10. At the same time such pressure raises the spinner head to reduce friction and to permit ready rotation. Fan 10 is connected to spinner head 31 and rotates therewith. Rotation of fan 8 draws air through the inlet 3 into the casing and directs such air in counterfiow heat exchange relation with the Water dripping from the various decks 10. The air is discharged against eliminator 14 which serves to remove moisture being carried off with the discharged air stream and to return it to the decks 10 and also to diffuse the air stream.

The cooling tower provided by the present invention may be constructed inexpensively due primarily to the construction of the lattice-work decks and to the elimination of a fan motor. The lattice-work decks are composed of comparatively inexpensive material which may be easilyassembled and arranged in place in the tower, thus decreasing the cost ofsassembly and material.

The water distributingrnechanism adequately distributes water over the decks and also serves to rotate the fan thereby eliminating a separate fan motor, and decreasing the cost of construction. My invention permits the elimination of so-called splash decks and spray nozzles since the construction provided distributes the water in a predetermined pattern of distribution. It will be observed a simple, novel bearing construction is provided to reduce friction during rotation of the water distributing mechanism and fan.

While I have described a preferred embodiment of my invention, it will be understood my invention is not limited thereto since it may be otherwise embodied within the scope of the following claims.

I claim:

1. A lattice-work deck for a cooling tower comprising a series of rectangular strips of asphalt impregnated organic fiber material extending in a first direction and a second series of similar rectangular strips of impregnated organic fiber material extending at an angle to strips in the first series and frictionally interlocked therewith by means of spaced slots extending from longitudinal edges of the strips, the slot at one end of each strip being spaced a greater distance from that end of the strip than the distance between the slot at the opposite end of the'strip and the opposite end of the strip, the deck being adapted to be disposed with the edges of the strips opposed to the air passing through the cooling tower.

2. In a cooling tower the combination of a casing, lattice-work decks in the casing, each deck comprising a series of impregnated organic fiber strips extending ina first direction and asecond series of impregnated organic fiber strips extending at an angle to the strips'to the first series and interlocked therewith, lattice-work in one deck being offset from lattice-work in a contacting deck, means to support the decks in the casing, a fan for passing air through the casing, means for distributing water over lattice-work decks in the casing, said distributing means comprising a spinner head 'rotatably mounted in the casing, nozzles connected to the spinner head to distribute Water over the decks, pressure of water entering the spinner head in nozzles rotating the same, the fan being connected to the spinner head whereby rotation of the spinner head rotates the fan to draw air through the casing in heat exchange relation with water being cooled said fan being disposed in the upper portion of the casing adjacent and opening therein, an eliminator disposed above the casing opening spaced therefrom to eliminate water from the discharged air stream and to diffuse the air stream, and means for supporting the eliminator in predetermined position.

3. A cooling tower according to claim 2 in which the eliminator includes a pan member disposed adjacent the opening in the casing, said pan having an opening therein through which the fan discharges air from the casing, and a disk disposed above the opening and spaced therefrom serving to eliminate water from the discharged air stream and to diffuse the air stream, the disk being mounted on brackets supported by the casing. I 1

4. In a cooling tower, the combination of a casing, means for passing air' through said casing, means for distributing water in said casing, a plurality of latticework decks superposed on one another, a sump in the lower portion of the casing to receive water falling from the lattice-work decks, a screen over said sump, and a second screen spaced from the first screen to support the lattice-work decks, said casing having a plurality of openings therein between said screens to permit ingress of air into the casing, the lattice-work being formed of impregnated organic fiber material, lattice-work in one deck being olf-set from lattice-work in a contacting deck to increase heat exchange between the air and the water being cooled.

5. In a bearing construction for rotating mechanism the combination of a liquid supply pipe for liquid under pressure, a spinner head mounted on said supply pipe capable of rotating movement and of movement in a direction longitudinal of the supply pipe, the spinner head including a housing forming a chamber, curved arms extending from the chamber terminating in nozzles, openings in the supply pipe permitting passage of liquid into the housing chamber, pressure of water'falling through the curved arms causing the rotation of the spinner head, said head having a shaft-like portion, a member to be rotated mounted on said portion, said portion having openings therein connected to the housing chamber whereby water under pressure penetrates between the housing and the supply pipe to raise the spinner head from the pipe to reduce friction, such water falling through the openings in the shaft-like portion to maintain a desired film of water between the head and the supply pipe.

6. In a cooling tower, the combination of a casing, a spray member for distributing water in the casing, pressure of water entering said member rotating the same, a fan connected to the spray member and rotated by rotation of said spray member, a plurality of lattice-work decks superposed on one another, lattice-work in one deck being ofiset from lattice-work in a contacting deck to increase the heat exchange between the water and air drawn into the casing by the fan, air and water passing through the casing being disposed in counterfiow relation, means to support the lattice-work decks in the casing,

said spray member comprising a supply pipe supported in the casing, second pipe extending therefrom, a spinner head mounted on the second pipe capable of rotating movement and of movement in a direction longitudinal of the second pipe, the spinner head including a housing forming a chamber, curved arms extending from the chamber terminating in nozzles, openings in the second pipe extending into the housing chamber, pressure of water flowing through the curved arms causing the. rotation of the spinner head, said head having a shaft-like portion, a fan member secured on said portion, said portion having openings therein connected to the housing chamber whereby water under pressure penetrates between the housing and the second pipe to raise the spinner head from the pipes to reduce friction, such water flowing through the openings to maintain a desired film of water between the head and the second pipe.

7. A cooling tower according to claim 6 in which the shaft-like portion includes vertical and horizontal openings and the second pipe terminates in a portion on which the spinner head rests before water pressure is applied thereto, said portion serving to close the vertical opening in the shaft-portion before water pressure is applied.

8. In a cooling tower, the combination of a casing, means for distributing liquid in said casing, means for passing air through said casing in counterflow relation to the air, a plurality of lattice-work decks superposed on one another, the lattice-work in one deck being oif-set from lattice-work in a contacting deck with the width of each deck disposed in the direction of movement of the air to separate continuously the air stream passing through the casing thereby increasing the heat exchange between the air and the liquid being cooled, said lattice-work in each deck being formed of a series of impregnated organic fiber strips extending in a first direction, and a second series of impregnated organic fiber strips extending at an angle to the strips of the first series and interlocked therewith, the edges of the strips facing the counterflow of the air and the liquid and means to support the lattice-work decks in the casing, each strip having a series of spaced openings extending from a longitudinal edge thereof, the opening at the end of the series being a greater distance from one end of the strip than the distance between the opening at the beginning of the series and the opposite end of the strip, lattice-work in one deck being turned at a right angle to lattice-work in a contacting deck to offset the strips in one deck from the strips in the second deck.

9. A cooling tower according to claim 8 in which the strips comprise organic fiber material impregnated with asphalt in at least an equal amount by weight.

10. A cooling tower according to claim 9 in which the openings in the strips are in the form of slots, each strip being identical in contour whereby strips of the second series may be reversed to form joints: with strips of the first series, the slots in each strip having a width substantially the same as the thickness of the strip to assure frictional engagement between the interlocked strips.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 976,246 Alberger Nov. 22, 1910 1,378,372 Waite Mar. 29, 1921 1,420,722 MacLachlan June 27, 1922 1,486,032 Pourcel Mar. 4, 1924 2,042,127 Sayles May 26, 1930 2,062,090 Gaarder et al Nov. 24, 1936 2,197,970 Elmer Apr. 23, 1940 2,356,653 Cox Aug. 22, 1944 v FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 25,053 Great Britain Nov. 20, 1908 465,056 Great Britain Apr. 29, 1937 496,051 Great Britain Nov. 21, 1938 

